Animal-trap.



PATENTED DEC. 31, 1907.

H. J. HOUTSINGER.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. 1907.

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HENRY .I. HOUTSINGER, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec 31, 1907.

Application filed February 27. 1907. Serial No. 359,563.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. HoUrsINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sterling, in the county of VVhiteside and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompany ing drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to animal traps, and relates specially tothat class of such devices wherein the animal is caught by a movablewire jaw, actuated by coiled springs. It is frequently a difficultmatter to set traps of this description, on account of the tension ofthe springs and the ease with which the trap may be sprung. Especiallyin traps of larger size, designed for the cap ture of larger animals, isthe setting of the trap attended with some difficulty and danger ofinjury to the hands of the operator.

The chief purpose of my device is to provide a simple and novelconstruction whereby the trap may be set by the foot of the operator.The construction, combination and operation of the parts thereof will beset forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention, with a portionof the footplate 10 broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal verticalsection in the line a: x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view, with thetrap in posi tion for use.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several figures. i

1 represents the base-plate of the trap, provided with sides 2 and araised edge 3 at its front end. Fixed in the sides 2 is a rod 4, uponwhich is hingeably mounted a wire jaw or loop 5, the ends of which areprojected rearwardly into short arms 6. Seated on the rod 4 is a pair ofcoiled springs 7 7, united by a loop 8, the rear end of which rests uponthe base-plate 1. The ends of the springs 7 are projected forwardly intoarms 9 9, which engage the side-pieces of the loop 5 to hold the frontbar of such loop in contact with the plate 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Pivoted in the rear end of the device, as at a is a foot-plate 10,provided with a central opening 11. The forward edge of the plate 10 isprovided with an angle-plate 12, extending downwardly at approximately aright angle to the plate 10, the lower edge of the plate 12 resting uponthe arms 6, when the trap is not set. The front edge of the plate 10 isfurther provided with a forwardly extending flange 1.3.

The base-plate 1, and sides thereof, and the foot-plate 10, arepreferably constructed of sheetmetal, by which construction the plate 12and flange 13 can be formedintcgral with the plate 10 by bending aportion of the metal upon itself to produce the angle-plate and thenforwardly to form the flange. This not only lessens the cost ofmanufacture of these parts, but also gives a greater strength to theplate 12.

Fulcrumed on the rod 4 is a bait-lever 14, having an upwardly projectedshort arm 15, provided on its rear face with a lug 16. Fixed. to thelever 14 is a spring-arm 17, extending rearwardly and upwardly into theopening 11, where it is provided with a bend 18.

To set the trap the lever 14 is provided with suitable bait, and theplate 10 forced downwardly by the foot of the operator, the cross-plate12 acting upon the arms 6 to throw them into a vertical position,correspondingly elevating the jaw 5, as shown in Fig. 3. As the plate 10is depressed the arm 17 is also pressed downwardly by the foot of theoperator, raising the lever 14, until, when the plate 10 is at itslowest point the lug 16 on the arm 15 engages the edge of the flange 13,looking the plate 10 in its lowered posi tion, and preventing theclosing of the jaw 5.

In order that theloop 8 may not interfere 'with the downward movement ofthe plate 12, the central portion of such plate may be cut away, forminga recess 19.

Upon the bait-lever being disturbed by the animal it is sought tocapture, the lug 16 is disengaged from the flange 13, releasing theplate 10, and permitting the jaw 5, actuated by the springs 7, to closeupon the animal.

When the foot is removed from the plate 10, after the trap has been set,the pressure upon the spring-arm 17 is removed, permitting the free endthereof to extend upwardly through the opening 11. This removes theforce exerted by such arm upon the lever 14 so that said lever is freeto move downwardly when disturbed by the animal, and release the jaw 5.

When the trap is sprung the side members of the jaw 5 conform to theupper edges'of the sides 2, and are just within the same, and thecross-bar of such jaw is just in rear of the front edge 3 of the base 1.By this means such edge 3 and sides 2 constitute stationary jaws for thejaw 5 to act against, rendering the operation of the trap moreeffective.

-What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is:

1. An animal trap, comprising a baseplate; a spring-controlled jaw,-mounted on such plate, so as to contact therewith, and provided withrearwardly extending arms; a foot-plate, pivoted on said base-plate atone end, and resting on said arms at the opposite end, and adapted tothrow such arms into a vertical position to elevate said jaw; means forholding such foot-plate in depressed position; and means for releasingthe same by operation of the animal, substantially as set forth.

2. An animal trap, comprising a baseplate; a spring-controlled jaw,mounted on such plate, and adapted to contact therewith; a foot-plate,pivotally supported on said base-plate, and adapted to actuate said jaw,to open the same; a bait-lever, hingeably mounted on said base-plate,and provided with means for locking the same to said footplate; meansfor raising said bait lever coincidently with the depression of saidfootplate, and means for locking said bait-lever to said foot-plate whenit is fully depressed, substantially as and for the purpose mentioned.

3. In a device of the class named, embodying a base-plate and spring-jawsupported thereon; a foot-plate, pivotally supported on said base-plate,provided with a central opening, and adapted to engage said jaw, to openthe same; a bait-lever, hingeably mounted on said base-plate, andprovided with means for engaging said footplate; and a springarm, fixedat one end to said bait-lever and extending at the other end into theopening in said foot-plate, substantially as shown and described.

4. In an animal trap, the combination of thebase-plate 1; aspring-controlled jaw 5 pivotally supported thereon, and provided withthe arms 6; and the foot-plate 10, pivotally supported on the plate 1,and provided with an angle-plate 12, engaging the arms 6 to elevate thejaw 5, substantially as shown and set forth.

5. In an animal trap, the combination of the base-plate 1; aspring-controlled jaw 5 pivotally supported thereon, and provided witharms 6; the foot-plate 10, pivotally sup-- ported on the plate 1, suchfoot-plate being provided with a central opening 11, and engaging thearms 6 to elevate the jaw 5; a bait lev'er 14, hingeably mounted on theplate 1, and provided with the spring-arm 17, extending rearwardly intothe opening 11; and means for locking the lever 14 to the plate 10 whensuch plate is fully depressed, substantially as set forth and for thepurpose named.

6. In an animal trap, the combination of the base-plate 1, aspring-controlled jaw 5 pivotally mounted thereon, and provided witharms 6; a foot-plate 10, pivotally supported on the plate 1, providedwith an opening 11, and adapted to engage the arms 6, to raise the jaw5; a bait-lever 14 provided with a short arm 15, hingeably mounted onthe plate 1, and provided with a spring-arm 17 extending upwardly intothe opening 11; a flange 13, on the forward edge of the footplate 10;and means for causing the short arm 15 of the bait-lever 14 to engagethe flange 13, and lock the arm 15 to the footplate 10, substantially asshown and set forth.

7. In an animal trap, the combination of a base-plate 1, provided withthe sides 2 and front edge 3; a spring-controlled jaw 5, pivotallymounted on the plate 1, and provided with the arms 6; a foot-plate 10,pivotally supported on the plate 1, and engaging the arms 6 to elevatethe jaw 5; a bait-lever 14, hingeably mounted on the plate 1; means forraising the lever 14 simultaneously with the elevation of the jaw 5, andmeans for locking the lever 14 to the foot-plate 10 when such jaw isfully raised, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of .twowitnesses.

' HENRY J. HOUTSINGER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. WOODBURN, GEORGE H. BEEBE.

